Inside thoughts and ideas from a mom who has absolutely nothing to complain about. Just trying to make you chuckle. ...Like me, this blog is all over the place.

September 2015

I had the pleasure of enjoying a complimentary massage at Massage Envy Spa in Toms River in exchange for this honest review.

I just want to explain first that I am not a massage person. I have no reason other than I am a very particular person when it comes to people touching me. I need things to be exactly right in order for me to enjoy a massage. Ridiculous, I know. But because I am also a cheapskate, I don't feel that spending money on a massage that could possibly be sub-par to my ridiculous standards is worth the money.

But I am also an optimist who will always give experiences a second or third chance in hopes that my mind can be changed. After all, people all across the earth absolutely LOVE massages. Why can't I be one of them?

So I agreed to visit Massage Envy Spa in Toms River to experience a one hour massage. I made my appointment and impatiently waited for the day to arrive. To add to my excitement, I got both a phone call and an email the day before my appointment to remind me of my upcoming relaxation session with Peggy, the top massage therapist at the Toms River location.

When I got to Massage Envy Spa, I was greeted by two lovely hostesses who had me fill out a sort of medical form on which I would list any medical issues, trouble spots, or special instructions for the massage therapist like certain spots I do NOT want massaged or spots that might need more attention. The form also had a section where I was to indicate what type of massage I would like: Light, Medium, or Deep. (I chose Deep because I am a very ticklish person. Basically anything less than a slap makes me giggle.)

While I filled out my form, I sat in the waiting area, which had several soft seats and a bar with different types of teas and cold water to drink. After about five minutes, Peggy came to greet me and bring me back to one of the many therapy rooms. She went over the form with me and again asked if I preferred a Deep massage. She then advised me to disrobe down to whatever garments made me most comfortable and slip under the covers face up on the heated massage table. Then she left the room. Already, I felt the relaxation slip over me.

When Peggy came back, the massage began with my scalp, then moved down to my neck, shoulders, decollete, and arms. I have never had a massage on my forearms like this before. It was wonderful. I could feel knots being released that I didn't know were even there. I mean, who carries stress in their forearms, for Pete's sake? I guess I do.

Then Peggy moved down to massage my legs. My favorite part was when she did my shins. Again, stress in weird places. What the heck? Anyways...

I was then asked to flip over so she could continue with the back of my body. She slipped a pillow under my feet and then put her hands on both my heels and rubbed straight down both soles to my toes. She massaged my arches for a while and then did the one thing that I absolutely NEED to have when I'm given a foot massage (remember, I have weird ridiculous standards): She massaged each toe pulling each one through her fingers at the end.

Let me just stop right here for a minute to share one more bit of my weirdness. See, in all aspects of my life, I need symmetry. Like, NEED it. Things don't necessarily have to match, but they need to give off the same amount of energy on both sides. When it comes to massage, if one side of my body is massaged differently than the other, I get very uncomfortable. And to further that feeling of symmetry, I need that symmetrical energy to be pulled out from my fingertips and toes or I feel incomplete. I know that's very particular, but that's how I feel.

Back to the massage...

After Peggy massaged my toes, she then moved to my glutes, lower back, and then the rest of my back. Because I have been experiencing some lower back pain lately (and indicated it on my form) Peggy made sure I was feeling OK before she continued with the massage. I told her it felt great!

When the massage was over, I cried. Again, I am admitting my weirdness because I feel like it's important. I really did cry.

Not only did the massage undo all the knots in my muscles and refresh my body, it refreshed my spirit as well. I felt cleansed. I didn't know how much stress I had been holding in until Peggy was about to help me release it all. When I left, I felt like gelatin. This may or may not be actual footage from my walk back to the car:

I think it's important for us to release all that built up stress when we can. To start fresh. To give ourselves a better chance at taking on the world! Maybe a massage every once in a while is a good thing. I know I have become a believer.

So now to the technical part about Massage Envy Spa:

Massage Envy Spa offers either individual fees for services or a membership fee which includes either a massage or facial each month. If you enjoy monthly massages or facials, the membership is well worth it at $59.99. And yes, you can roll over your unused services to the next month.